The de facto authorities of Tskhinvali region have sentenced two Georgian citizens, Iason Gengiuri and Sergo Merebashvili, to 2.6 years in prison. The two men were detained on September 16, 2024, accused of illegally crossing the so-called border and damaging infrastructure.

As of now, six Georgian citizens remain in illegal detention. The issue was addressed at the 123rd meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in the village of Ergneti.

Irakli Antadze, Deputy Director of the Analytical Department of the State Security Service, emphasized that the primary focus of the meeting was securing the release of those held in illegal detention.

“Specific information was shared regarding Iason Gengiuri and Sergo Merebashvili, who were sentenced to 2.6 years in prison. They are currently awaiting the so-called court ruling. Notably, those individuals faced much longer sentences in the past; however, through existing negotiation formats, they were successfully reunited with their families,” he stated.

Regarding illegal borderization, Antadze highlighted its destructive nature and specified affected locations. He also reiterated Georgia’s firm stance on seeking justice for Tamaz Ginturi and other victims along the occupation line.

The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was held in Ergneti after a three-month pause, with the next session scheduled for April 3.